Gregory, who is a third-year student on the BA (Hons) 3D Design Crafts course, designed the piece called ‘Conversation’ using bronze casting and computer-aided design (CAD) software, supported by the expert staff in the college's Fab Lab Plymouth. Winning the prize presented by the Worshipful Company of Tin Plate Workers alias Wire Workers, the medal is a representation of the interaction and communication between opposing forces: the calming organic against the hectic mechanic.The judges commented on Gregory’s medal, highlighting the contrasting smooth and complex use of texture on both sides of the medal, remarking that it won due to the fact it was an attractive piece inspired by a good subject matter.
Gregory initially designed and created his medal in wax, submitting it with an artist statement to his lecturers who then selected the medals to represent the college.
Gregory, originally from Basingstoke, said: “I modelled the piece using Rhino 3D software, printing a few test pieces in plastic, making adjustments until I printed my final model in castable resin. I then used the facilities at Plymouth College of Art to metal cast the medal. During this stage, I received a lot of support and help from both the metal technicians and the Fab Lab, so big thanks to them!
“Winning this has given me such a confidence boost and has encouraged me to enter other competitions as well as consider medals as a future medium.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the BA (Hons) 3D Design Crafts course, it’s been a real ‘hit the ground running’ experience for me! From day one, I was being taught the foundations of many different mediums, allowing me the space to develop my own practice and choose where I wanted to specialise. Between lectures, workshops, exhibitions and excursions, I feel that the course really pushed me to do more than I thought possible.”
Senior Lecturer & Subject Leader for BA (Hons) 3D Design Crafts Gayle Matthias said: “It’s always so encouraging for our students to get recognition for their hard work, especially from esteemed organisations such as the British Medal Art Society. Over the years, Gregory has shown interest in working across a range of materials and processes. To win this prize just shows how far he’s developed creatively since joining the course.”
The Student Medal Project is hosted by the British Art Medal Society and actively encourages and promotes the art of making medals throughout higher education art institutions across the country and in Italy.
"Winning this has given me such a confidence boost and has encouraged me to enter other competitions as well as consider medals as a future medium."
- Gregory Williams, BA (Hons) 3D Design Crafts student
Supported by prestigious livery companies such as the Worshipful Company of Cutlers, the Worshipful Company of Founders and Thomas Fattorini Ltd, winners and entrants are published within a catalogue which also allows a record for those who are at the beginning of their artistic careers, with a further chance of the British Museum purchasing particularly exemplary student-designed medals for display.
The judges included industry names such as Gregory Fattorini of Thomas Fattorini Ltd, Janet Larkin, curator of the British Museum, Linda Crook, artist and medal maker, Marcy Leavitt Bourne, Student Medal Project director as well as Stacey Mutkin, photographer and invited judge.